Google's new Labs for Google Apps just further underscores the different philosophies for cloud computing embraced by Google and Microsoft. While Microsoft is just now launching its Azure cloud OS and stepping up its promise of an online, yet limited, version of Office, Google is opening up its venerable Apps productivity suite to include more features--even those from third parties.
As Microsoft continues to scramble to figure out how to leverage its desktop stranglehold in the cloud-computing world, Google continues to play fast and loose with Apps, extending it with these new Lab features so that users can pick and choose the features they need, when they need them. In addition, Google has added Gears capabilities that allow Apps users to work both online and off as needed--all at no extra cost to the user.
Microsoft's online Office, on the other hand, is the opposite of flexibility. The feature set is static, and no offline access is planned. Users looking for more features or offline access will need to fork out the cash for the traditional desktop suite and figure out how to make it work.
Cloud applications are attractive because they are fluid, and new features and resources can be added as users--not marketing schedules--require. It's all about flexibility--in terms of being able to work whenever you want, wherever you are--without being chained to a specific desktop.
Google's new Labs for Apps shows it gets it. Microsoft's online Office plan shows it's still figuring it out.
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